From the Indian corporates who are conserving energy, to the first waste management park in India – top social stories this week

Conserving energy, groundwater, and effective waste treatment is the need of the hour. With resources depleting at a steady rate, and the proof of global numbers to show for it, individuals and organisations are strapping up their sustainability boots to implement a change.

This week, SocialStory brings you stories of enterprises and organisations working towards an environment-friendly future, as well as inspiring stories of youngsters who are not only achieving their dreams but also making the world a better place in the process.

These 5 Indian corporates have made energy conservation an important part of their business plan

Looming climate change has woken up governments, organisations, corporates, and individuals across the world. They have realised that it’s imperative to change the status quo to counter this threat, and are working to protect our environment.

From switching to solar rooftop panels, cutting down water consumption, and using LED Lights, individuals and corporates are attempting to make a difference in a bid to improve the situation by 2030.

SocialStory takes a close look at the five Indian corporates that are making energy conservation a part of their business plans, such as TVS Motors, Wipro Enterprises, Philips, Larsen & Toubro, and TATA Power Limited.

This 22-year-old ‘drone scientist’ from Mandya has developed over 600 drones

Innovation in today’s world has come to the rescue in many cases, be it during natural disasters, for border security, or even helping farmers in agriculture.

Drone technology is one such innovation that has emerged as one of the most valued and essential technologies in recent years.

During the floods that devastated North Karnataka recently, where thousands of people were stranded, 22-year-old Pratap NM used his indigenous drones to provide food and other relief material to the affected areas.

A BSc graduate from JSS College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in Mysuru, Pratap is often lauded as the Drone Scientist. He has been invited to over 87 countries to showcase his drones, and has worked in over six major projects, including one for defence purposes.

This Pune-based waste management park is promoting green practices for a sustainable future

According to a recent study by Civil Digital, India produces around 42 million tonnes of waste annually, and the per capita waste is increasing by 1.3 percent per annum.

To address this issue, The Eco Factory Foundation (TEFF), an NGO founded by Anand Chordia in 2016, created the country’s first-ever waste management park called, Suhana Farms in Yawat near Pune. The farm focusses on spreading awareness on the importance of reducing, reusing, recycling, and up-cycling waste.

Today, several institutes and organisations across the nation have tied up with TEFF to ensure effective waste management. These include SNDT College of Home Science, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Iskcon Temple, Katraj, Pune, and IIT Tirupati, to name a few.

The park charges an entry fee in the range of Rs 100 and Rs 1,200 per visit, and for those who cannot afford it, it is free of cost. The park has also undertaken several sustainable initiatives such as the urban farming skill development centre, sustainable farming skill development and rural entrepreneurship centre, as well as, the urban farming skill development centre.

The next big opportunity in farming: Innovation in the agriculture-water sector

As the focus shifts from land productivity to irrigation water productivity, it is not for players to independently work on solutions. The past few decades have shown that not much can be achieved this way.

Innovative go-to-market strategies, coalitions across the non-profit, state, corporate, and startup ecosystems could be the answer to bring in lasting, equitable, and systemic change that the agriculture-water space desperately needs.

According to Tracxn, only 31 startups are working in water and 16 in the irrigation sector. Of this, only four in irrigation and nine in water have raised any funding.

Villgro believes that this space could be upended by unique partnerships between foundations, non-profits, and startups. It sees a few startups bringing in change in these areas working at an aggregated level, where data across swathes of farms can help decided on insurance, predict yield, or monitor crop status, and at individual farm level, where contract farming, FPOs, and individual farmers can use technology to make their fields more water-efficient.

In a first, 18-year-old to become the first player from the Valley to play for IPL

Recently, the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded its auction for its 12th season, which will commence in April 2020, where eight teams will participate to win the title. Like every year, apart from top players, teams also choose a few players from the district and state levels, who get off to a good start in the game and make a name for themselves.

Sunrisers Hyderabad recently bought 18-year-old Abdul Samad in the IPL auction for Rs 20 lakh.

What’s surprising is that Abdul hails from Jammu and Kashmir which is in the middle of grieve tension due to the abrogation of Article 370. Further, he has also emerged as the first player from the valley to be selected for IPL 2020.

Abdul has been inducted in the team as a middle-order batsman, who can also bowl if the team requires.

The player has come in the spotlight for his constant performance in the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 league, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and in the ongoing Ranji Trophy Tournament.

(Edited by Suman Singh)

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